Chapter 4 ANTI-DEPRESSANT

This afternoon, Shenina was already prepared with three boxes of food in a goodie bag. The girl then said goodbye to her mother and then stepped out of the house.

It only takes a 15-minute walk to get to her destination which is only five blocks from her house. She watched the house, smiling impatiently at the response of the people inside.

Her eyes were fixed on the ranks of sports bikes parked neatly not far from where her stood. Reluctant to linger, Shenina finally stepped towards the main door of the stately home.

"Good afternoon!" Shenina exclaimed, her head appeared first into the house because it happened that the door was wide open.

"Wow! Look at this, who's coming!" answered a heavy baritone voice belonging to a large middle-aged man, his face radiant with a very wide smile.

"Hi, Uncle," Shenina said, the girl approached the man then hugged him for a while.

"I was surprised, I thought it was just a boast that you actually went back to East Aire," the man said as he stroked Shenina's hair.

As a result of the man's voice, spontaneously five men who had been gathered on the second floor finally went downstairs.

"Hi, Shen, when did you come?" asked Bennedict.

"Just now, " Shenina replied.

"Dad will definitely not tell us if Shenina comes to our house," sneered Betrand.

Mahessa Greg, The parents of Betrand Greg and Bennedict Greg, is a tough-looking figure on the outside but actually has a soft and wise heart. His stature was large and tall, his belly bulging, there was a thin beard that had turned white wrapped around his firm jaw.

"Hi, Angel!" exclaimed Pablo.

Shenina smiled sweetly, so sweet that it made the five men misbehave to see her.

"My mom makes food, just a little bit. I don't know if there are any of you here either."

"For us?" asked Archen.

Shenina shook her head still with a smile that didn't seem to want to fade. "Actually for Bennedict, Betrand, and Uncle Mahessa, but since you are here, you have to share."

Shenina handed the goodie bag into Betrand's hands, the man accepted it. His hands were trying to figure out what was inside.

"Macaroni schotel!" exclaimed Betrand. A short time later, the food was seized by Mahessa.

"This must be for me, you just eat the rest. This is my favorite, " said Mahessa then ran to the kitchen.

Shenina chuckled at the man's absurd behavior. While Betrand and Bennedict look not bother because there are still two more lunch boxes in it.

"I'm going home now," Shenina said.

"Why hurry?" prevent Betrand. "Don't you want to come gather with us?"

"Come along, we're playing the play station," Archen said.

"Do you want to play barbie? Apparently Betrand has a large collection of barbie dolls, " said Pablo.

"Shit! Shut the fuck up!" said Betrand, if Pablo hadn't dodged, maybe one of those lunchboxes would have landed on his head.

Shenina laughed, further making the five men misbehave. It's no secret, Shenina knew that her best friend was indeed a lover of Barbie dolls from the past, there was even a closet full of his beautiful doll.

"She's cute, " Joshua muttered, surprised to see Shenina.

"Uncle, I'm going home!" Shenina said.

"Bennedict, please take Shenina home!" Mahessa replied from the direction of the kitchen.

"I'll do it," Joshua half-shouted.

Spontaneous they all turned to Joshua, the man did not budge he took out the motorcycle keys from his hoodie jacket pocket, walked up to Shenina who was staring at him.

"Come on."

"I'm going home alone," Shenina replied.

"I don't accept rejection."

"Shenina, come here later, okay!" The man shouted again, still from the direction of the kitchen.

The girl was reluctant to answer, she glanced at the others, threw a faint smile and passed away following Joshua's steps.

"My house is really close," Shenina said when Joshua had started his motorcycle engine.

" I'm driving you so you don't get tired," Joshua replied, his hand patting the back seat hinting that the girl should immediately get on the bike.

Shenina reluctantly took the man by the shoulders and sat down behind him. Seconds later, the motorcycle sped away from the magnificent courtyard of the residence of Mahessa Greg.

There was no talk between the two of them, Shenina chose to enjoy the afternoon breeze that hit her face, until she did not realize that Joshua actually took her out of the housing complex.

"Where are we going?" Shenina asked astonished.

"Just a moment," Joshua replied.

About 10 minutes later, the bike finally stopped right at the edge of the lake. Joshua asked the girl to wait a bit while he went to a drink stand not far from where Shenina was sitting.

"Ck, why come here!" Shenina grumbled, the girl herself felt uncomfortable with this situation. Shortly after, Joshua came with two fresh coconut ice, then sat down in front of the girl.

"Why did you bring me here?" Shenina asked annoyed.

"Sorry." That was Joshua's answer.

"If there is no interest, I want to go home."

"Just a moment, Shen," Joshua said softly, Shenina was silent, slowly she sighed and sipped the coconut ice that was served.

About 15 minutes they were silent without a chat, only the sound of water pounding they heard and the noisy noise of the people around them.

"Shen, " Joshua began.

"Hm."

"Who are you?"

The girl rebelled, noticing Joshua's serious but still expressionless look. Shenina laughed quietly, again scooping up the grated coconut and putting it in her mouth.

"I'm Shenina," the girl replied.

"I know, but that's not the answer I want," Joshua said.

"Then?"

"I'm no stranger to you."

Shenina chuckled. "Karina said, I look like your ex-girlfriend."

Joshua gasped, which Karina said was true despite not being a real ex, but he did really like the girl.

"But I'm not your ex-girlfriend," Shenina said.

"You look like her, but why can't I remember."

Shenina smiled sarcastically. "You are strange."

"The guy came to me, he gave me a picture of a little girl, and the girl in question looked a lot like you," Joshua explained.

Shenina was silent for a moment, her eyes looking closely at Joshua.

"Who is that man?"Shenina asked skeptically.

Joshua shook his head, both hands grabbing his face in frustration and then slowly grabbing his own hair. "I don't remember."

***

In the morning, the three new friends had gathered in the classroom. Karina is engrossed in her cell phone, Amanda with makeup tools in her hands, while Shenina only pays attention to the two.

"I left with Pablo, he was riding very fast!" Amanda said while polishing her face. "My skin is fading."

"Why not go with Betrand?" Karina asked.

"Betrand and Bennedict overslept, I was finally forced to leave with Pablo."

Amanda recalled the incident this morning met Pablo in front of the bus stop. As a gentle man, he took the initiative to offer Amanda to go together. Although initially the girl refused, she finally agreed instead of having to be late to college.

"Oh yes, Shen." Now Karina turned to Shenina. "Where did you go with Joshua yesterday?"

Amanda, who heard the question, was surprised, a big smile was printed on her face, she hurried to tidy up the makeup tools, and waited for an answer from Shenina.

"Hm, we went to the lake," Shenina replied.

"What are you guys doing there?" Amanda asked excitedly. "Are you guys dating?"

Shenina shook her head firmly. "No, you just chatted and spent the afternoon together."

"Wow, it seems like the seeds of love are starting to grow between you," Amanda said, pinching Shenina's arm slowly.

"Amanda, can you shut up?" Karina interrupts, her flat face now looks even scarier making Amanda stop the action.

"I'm sorry," Amanda whispered softly. Shenina just chuckled, she shook Karina's shoulder softly.

"I didn't do anything to your cousin."

"Why did he faint?" Karina asked.

"Faint?!" Amanda glared more and more with her super loud voice, then immediately covered her mouth with one hand.

"I don't know, he suddenly complained of a headache and then fainted," Shenina replied, she recalled yesterday when Joshua forced to remember something forgotten by the man, suddenly Joshua groaned feeling pain in his head.

As a result of yesterday's incident, Shenina finally took over Joshua's motorcycle and brought the man back to Mahessa's House.

"Can I ask you something?" pinta Karina.

"What?"

"One day don't ask or talk about things that make Joshua think hard."

Shenina was silent, she didn't want to ask any more questions. The incident yesterday afternoon and Karina's story just now gave her a lot of information that she really needed so far.

If her heroes there give her a puzzle, Shenina actually process the puzzle into an unexpected answer. Answers about Joshua and the four cores of Ghaveldaz, as well as about Karina and her weaknesses.

***

That afternoon, the four boys from Ghaveldaz, as well as Karina and Amanda decided to visit Joshua's house to visit the man.

During the trip they still argue about Shenina who is not interested in coming to Joshua's House.

"Amanda, why don't you just force her?" asked Pablo.

"She said she had business, so I didn't want to interfere with her business," Amanda replied curtly.

Choosing not to argue anymore, they finally waltzed into the magnificent house. Their arrival was immediately greeted by Miss Minah, the woman escorted them to Joshua's room on the second floor.

"Please, make some drinks for us," Karina said to Miss Minah, and the woman nodded.

Seconds later, Karina as the person closest to Joshua ventured to open the door of the unlocked room.

"Hey!" Joshua exclaimed, a little stunned at their arrival.

"Are you surprised?" asked Pablo.

"Sorry, we didn't inform you." Archen approached him giving a friendly high five greeting. Followed by Betrand, Bennedict, and Pablo.

"Joshua, how Are you?" asked Amanda.

" I'm fine," Joshua replied.

"Don't act like you're strong," Karina objected, the girl took a bottle of anti-depressant on the nightstand, and then shook the bottle slowly.

"You don't take medicine?" Karina asked sternly.

Joshua shook his head slowly, immediately then Karina opened the medicine bottle,took out a pill and forced it to Joshua.

"You drink too," Joshua said and took the medicine.

Karina nodded and took some medicine and swallowed it until the toilet.

And the others just look at them both. They look at each other, and their faces glow.

"You guys ...." Amanda wants to talk.

"Don't worry," Karina said.

"I assure you that nothing bad will happen to you again. I promise," said Archen.

They nodded, clasping each other's hands giving each other strength. Past events that shook Joshua and Karina enough, very imprinted on their brains.

They want revenge, but they don't know where to start. They remembered a man who had approached them on the night of the incident. Someone who has an important role to play in their past.

***